cheap

Such a chilly day for Christmas shopping. I meet Jean-Noel for lunch at Scotts, lets say to warm up, hoping this lavish distraction will bolster the arduous task ahead. He has meetings and a broken phone to replace on Oxford Street, ungh, and I plan a one-stop shop at Selfirdges, ungh, to cover all bases.

The restaurant fills... it's early days. We eat at the counter and digest the carefully measured parade of diners ushered passed us to their tables. The room is almost serene and chinks with the reassuring rhythm of well oiled things. As this lunch represents for the two of us something of a seasonal event we drink some Champagne and totter off to Oxford Street with a merry step. This is perhaps the better appraoch but does not represent a great way to shop cautiously.

I have in my wallet a handsome wad of Selfridges vouchers received as a gift from my employer and use them to enable the filling of three carriers. I come away from the store considering whether my purchases now inherently represent the act of giving twice over, and are therefore deeply endorsed with the gesture, the gifts having been purchased themselves with a gift.

Or, on the contrary, can I no longer claim giftship (as it were) of these thoughtfully chosen items. Are both little Chloe and my mother now receiving unexpected gifts from my boss ?

Cheap !